Thread spools



Of 13, 1959 l M. cuRRY 2,908,093 mmm sPooLS original Filed Jan. 24, 1955 INV TOR.

TETE. Macau/14 amv /l Tram/Enf v4spondingfto aportion of Figure 3; and

States Patent ce Patented oct. 1a, tsss THREAD snooLs Y'i claims; (el. 40-10) 'I he present 4invention relates tofsewing thread spools and more particularly to such spools made A of resinous material. This application is a divisional of United States -of America application Serial Number vv483,650 tiledJanuary-ZA, -1-955, -noW abandoned. f

Sewing thread spools in general use today are usually made ,from Wood and are in 'the form of lan elongated cylinder having a bore extendingsaidally therethrough. 'I 'he ends of the cylinder are provided with peripheral tlanges in order tomretain the Wound thread on -the spool. Attached -to one o r both ends of the cylindrical tube are labels upon which, the name. of 1the manufacturer l.of the thread is imprinted as `well as otherdata 'to .identify the thread wound on the spool. These labels are attached to the ends of .the spool by means* of adhesive. rlhe use of adhesive ,to secure these labels Ato the ends of the spool .has the disadvantage that the labels Vvoften become disengaged from the spools either during display or While the spool is in use by the consumer. Another disadvantage of :thread .spools .presently in use is that they are made from wood which renders ythem relatively expensive. l t I n' Aview of the foregoing fthe .primary .object of the present yinvention is to provide a thread spool. with .means for Securing tickets .or labelsf on the. ends of 'fthe spool witheuttheuse ofadhesive ,Anetiie object .-of vthe present invention 1ist@ 'provide a` lmolded thread spool having maximum strength for thearnnnntnf matsralnsed 1 f ,Ilese and further .Objects Qf- .the present invention will appear from the following description of the inv e' tionl tube 'read .in @injunction `with .the accompanyin drawings-wherein Vlike .Components in .the several viewsareidentied ,by `the ,s amllffirll llrllnlall In the drawings:

lgure'l is a longitud al sectional View of Pro1/Qd snQQl inthe form in @which it ,may ,leave the- Innldins die l Figui@ 2 iS an .Gnd view ofthe 4spool illustrated in Figure 1 Fleurs 3 is a I ngitndnal sectional viewfinartly :in

elevation, si the snQQl andnevinss for operating 0.11 nrniectingrlips on the ends .Qf. .the spool', the lips being forth@ Purpose of retaininntickets er labels on the ends of the spool `without the use of adhesive.

.Figure 4-1`s a lnngitndinal Ys ectismal view-.of1afmodified f orm of. the spool of the 4present invention.`

lustrated in Figure 4. y,

Figure 6 is a view. cnrrsspgnding to a .portion 0f Figure 2 of another modified fQrmV, a nd fFigu're 7 is a `sectional elevation offa, spool corre` improved spool may be made of'"polystyrene such, for: .exainple; 'as' .that pnt out by the --Dovv` Chemical resin is a high impact polystyrene formulation developed Figure is ,an en d view of a portion of the s poolila device for la plying' ticket .or `labfel to "one end of the lspool. J

bythe manufacturer, and `vvill'be understood that any other resin having suitable characteristics may lhe emf ployed.

The spool may .be made of the size vcommonly vused for :home sewing thread. Such spools are usually ap.- proximately 11A 4inches long with their heads or end flanges 1 inch in diameter. It will be understoodphow-y ever, `that the spool may be made of any Adesired size. As shown in Figure 1, the spool is provided with a barrel portion Z having heads or end flanges 4,1andA further provided with a central, tube or core 6 which is integrally connected with the barrel 2. by meansv -of acentral disc 0r WebgS. l

The flanges 4 are provided with beveled portions 10, internal annular shoulders 12, and annular lips 14 which project from theouter peripheries of the flanges conl against the shoulderllpand to snap Vits outer 1 edge v`'Deneathbthe' lip v 14. vThe labels may ibe punched out of= Y a st rip `28 by means of a punch 3l), and then-the ,punched centrically'with the axis of the spool. l t

'The tube or core .6 may have its ends reduced in .diarneter- -t o provide shouldersv 16 which are substantially inthe plane of the shoulders 1'2.

lhe spool as ,thus 4f lescribed and as shown in Figure l, may be molded byany suitable means, such as by injection molding.

When the spool is removed from the molding die, it may be placed between eyeletting dies 18 which maybe heated by any suitable means as by the kheating coils 20 (Figure I3). By means of ,these dies the material of the annular lips 14 is softened by the heat and then the lips are vcurled inwardly as shoyvn. The inner edges of the lips -are .spaced in proximity yto 'the planes of the shoulders 12.

When the 'lips 14 have ythus been formed, 4the spools are ready to :receive the thread which `may .be Wound thereon kin theusual manner. To secure theouter end of the thread, a suitable slot 2 1,r nay lbe cutin one of the curled lips 14. It will be noted that owing to -the curvature, of the lip, -the slot may be made v,at the desired angle and .depth without cutting through `the edge of the lip ywhich -would be liable to result in a protrude ine-bar btag stock .or .other relatively .stiff and resilient material, the Alabels ,being punched lout .of a lstrip of `the material.

The labels may vtbe Yforced through the tapering ,openings provided .bylfthe cur-led flips 1 4, and against Ythe shoulders 1 6 on ,the 2ends of -the core ofthe spool, 4the Qsntral tlire-pu nned apertures in the .labels .closely fitting over the reduced 'ends of the core. At the same' time the Ylabels ,are seated -on the ends `of the core, the resiliency :thereof .causes their edges to snap beneath thevinner edges of the vlips 1,4 and into the spaces between said edges ,and the shoulders 12. It will be apparent that when vthus applied, lthe labels are securely held on the ends of the `spool .without the 1use of acl-v therein. The plunger 26 has a reduced roundedend f ormingarilot p27.` A

'lfhefpunched out label may fbe received over'the 'end Qf.,th e plunger 2,6 as shown. To apply gthe label, the plnngersf 2 4 y and 2 6 are yac lvanced to cause the -end 'of j the.v pilot lto `enter the core- 6. Thenthe lplunger 24k is adyancedto apply the label over the end of ,the coreand out labels may'be successively applied to the end-V of the spool as4 described.l It will beunderstood that the 4headed spools shown in the drawings.

' vspool during winding.

labelsY may be applied to both ends of each spool simultaneously. Y Y Y i The pilot pin 27 is made hollow and may be provided with radial apertures 28 so as to permit a blast of air admitted through the plunger to be directed outwardly Vthrough the apertures. By this means, as the vplungerV This ensures that Vin case the end of the thread f on the spools. In case, however, it is desired to apply the labels before windingthis may be done before the lips 14 are curled. over. The labels 22 -may'first be positioned against the shoulders 16 `of the core Vand :the shoulders 127,-and then the lips 14 curled against the labels as shown in Figure 3.` In thevform of spool shown in Figure 4 instead of the labels engaging shoulders 12 in the flanges of thespool,VV

those shoulders are dispensed with and the ends of the labels engage between the underside of the curled-lips 14 and the beveled portion 10 of the flanges. It will be apparent that with this construction, there is a saving of material, and the labels are securely held Whether the'labels are applied after or before the lips 14 are curled over.

Also, if desired the ends `of the core may be riveted over more or less against the outer sides of the Vlabels as illustrated in Figure 4, thus assisting in securely holding the labels in position. If desired the labels may be made convex as shown in Figure 4 so as to permit the printed portion thereof to be positioned closer to Vthe outer surfaces of the curled in lips 14.

The shouldersV 12 of Figure l instead of being made continuous, may bek interrupted at spaced intervals `29 labels centrally supported on the reduced ends of the core and marginally abutting said shoulders, the peripherres of said labels being retained by saidlips whereby the ends of said barrel are enclosed and the labels are retained in place on the ends of said spool.

2. A thread spool provided with labeled ends attached thereto without the use of adhesive, comprising',` an open ended barrel having flanges on the ends thereof, annular lips projecting from said flanges ,concentric to the .aJns of saidmspool, a central core coaxially supported wlthln said barrel and having reduced end portions to :provide annular shoulders, said core being coaxially supported within said barrel by an annular web, said lips being curled inwardly With the edges" thereof substantiallyjin the plane of said shoulders, Vand annular discY shaped labels centrally supported on the reduced ends of the core and marginally abutting said shoulders,V the peripheries kof said .labels being retained between said lips and angeswherebythe ends of said barrel are enclosed Yand the labels are Vretained in'lplace on the endsof said spool.- Y 1 3.V A threadv spoolY provided jwi'thllabeled 'ends attached thereto without the use of adhesive, comprisingv an Vopen* V` ended'barrel having cylindrical lipsprojecting 'from asillustrated in Figure 6, thus decreasing the amount of material used in the spool..f

, It Vwill be apparent that my' improved spool may be cheaply made of a ,minimumV amount of material and still be of the requisite strength. The curled over lips 14 in addition to securing the labels, provide transversely` curved supporting edges or rims for the ends of'the vspool during winding of the spool and when used `on sewing machines, and they effectively reinforcethe ends.

- It will also be apparent that my invention Vis also applicable to single headed spools, Vas well as the double The lips 14 may be maderrelatively thin and yet, because ofthe curvature thereof and the strength and resiliency of the resin,

they provide strong supporting rims for the ends of the'I spools as well as effective means to retain the labels` in place. i

The core and supporting web 8 provide for maximum strength for the amount of material used in the spool.

the -ends thereof, a central core coaxial'ly supported withincsaidV barrel and having reduced end portions to' provide annular shoulders, said core being coaxially supported within said barrel by jan annular web, said lips being curled inwardlywith the edges thereof substan-VV tially in the plane of said shoulders yto provide snap-in enclosures, and annular discrshaped labels centrally supported on thereduced ends of the core and marginally abutting said shoulders, the peripheries of said labels being snapped under said lips within said snap-in Vvenclosure whereby the ends of said barrel are venclosed and the labels are retained in place on the ends Vof'sairdV spool. Y

y 4. A thread spoolV provided with labeledV ends attached thereto without the use Vof adhesive, comprising an open ended barrel having flanges on the ends thereof, Aannular lips'projecting from said` anges-concentriclto the axis of; said spool, acentral core coaxially supportedwithin said barrel and having reduced'end portions tof provide annular shoulders, said core being coaxially supported within said barrel by an annular web, said lips being curled: inwardly lWith the edges thereof substantially in the plane ofsaid shoulders to provide. Snap-in enclosures, andv annular discshaped labels centrally sup,

ported fon the reduced ends of the'` core 4and lmarginally abutting said shoulders, thelperiplieries of said labels being snapped under said lips within said snap-in enclosure Vwherebyzthe Vends of said barrel are enclosed and the labels, are retained in place ontheends'of `said spool. Y n. Y, v Y t 5. A thread spoolprovidedwith labeled ends attached thereto without the use of adhesive, comprising any open' The strength yof the spool may be increased by merelyV increasing the thhickness of the web, and this may be readily done by adjusting theY molding cores, thus spools of various strengths may be made Without lchanging the molding dies. Also, the hollow construction enables the Vwinding spindles to enter the ends of the spool and engage the barrel thereof, thus ensuring stability of the I claim: Y

l. A thread spool provided `with labeled endsattached thereto without'the luse of adhesive, comprisingfan-'open Y ended barrel? having cylindrical lips projecting fror'ntheV ends thereof, a'c'entral core' coaxially supported within ended barrel having cylindrical lips projecting from theV ends thereof,ra central core coaxially'supported within said barrel and having annular grooves on the ends 'there of, said core being coaxially supported within Vsaid barrel by an annular web, said-lips being curled inwardly Y with `thefedges thereof substantiallyvin the plane -of said grooves, and annular Vdisc shaped labels centrallysupported withinthe grooves 'on the ends orfrsaid core, the i i peripheries fof lsaid labels.Y being retainedl byI said Vlipsv whereby the ends of said barrel are enclosedfandthe labels are retained lin place on the ends of Vsaid spool.

6; `A threadspool provided with labeled ends attached there'rto` y.Without the use. of-adhesive, comprising an open Y .v ende'dbarrel havingllanges on the"ends-thereof, annularV t lipsy projecting from saidY ilanges'coneentr'ic 'to lthe'zaxis ofsaidspool, 'af central core coaxially supportediwithin said lbarr'elvand having ,annularr grooves kenAtheend's Y 4 thereof, said core beingcoazially supportedwithiri'said` barrel by an annular web, said lips being curled inwardly with the edges thereof substantially in the plane of said grooves, and annular disc shaped labels centrally supported within the grooves on the ends of said core, the peripheries of said labels being retained between said lips and flanges whereby the ends of said barrel are enclosed and the labels are retained in place on the ends of said spool.

7. A thread spool provided with labeled ends attached thereto without the use of adhesive, comprising an open ended barrel having anges on the ends thereof, annut lar lips projecting from said anges concentric to the axis of said spool, a central core coaxially supported Within said barrel and having annular grooves on the ends thereof, said core being coaxially supported within 15 216181442 grooves on the ends of said core, the peripheries of said` labels being snapped under said lips within said snap-in enclosure whereby the ends of said barrel are enclosed and the labels are retained in place on the ends of said spool.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Scholl Feb. 3, 1940 Kellog Nov. 18, 1952 

